For Greymolly
/+++/
"I'm coming with you."
"You're not."
"Isabeau."
The Inquisitor crossed her arms as she sternly regarded her obstinate Knight, "Cullen, I need you commanding my forces from the fortress."
"These are highly trained Seekers and Templars, Isabeau. They are not the rabble you are accustomed to. I will be at your side."
She took a steadying breath as she finished buckling her gauntlet to her marked hand, its glow muted under the leather and plate. Lowering her dragon-shaped helm snuggly upon her head, Isabeau strode for where her weapons lay.
"And if we both fall? What then?" She asked as she regarded her shield and sword, opting for her short sword for dual-wielding; she would have her shield brought to her after the initial assault. With an agile swishing of the twin blades, Isabeau tested the balance between the two, hoping the Spirit Healers would prove proficient and negate her need for a shield. Given the nature of their plan, Isabeau wanted to use speed and dexterity over brute force.
Cullen stood before her then and rested his hands on her shoulders, "We won't."
"We might. You said it yourself Cullen, we barely have the men for this battle. I will not have the Inquisition crumble in our combined absence; I need you in case the worst happens. Please… don't argue me on this, love. I do not will it lightly."
With a deep sigh from her paramour, Isabeau was relieved as Cullen relented, the Templar coming behind her to help fasten and tighten the last of her cuirass' belts. He leaned down, pushing her hair aside to plant a soft kiss at the back of her ear. Isabeau reached up and cupped the side of his head in her gauntlet, smiling sadly in their moment of intimacy.
"If they… Smite you…" He began brokenly, Isabeau wincing at his worry.
"We do not know what will happen for sure. I intend on killing any who try."
Isabeau sheathed her swords and turned into his arms, burying her face into his neck as the pair embraced tightly. When they broke apart, Cullen leaned down and kissed her gently, pulling back after to smile at her proudly.
"Do not dally; flank them and lure them to the walls as fast as they'll follow you."
Isabeau nodded as her hands rested upon the pommels of her swords, "You think they will?"
"They always intended on assaulting the fortress, you are simply expediting the process... and hopefully cutting down a swath of the bastards with you in their confusion." Cullen's back straightened as he gazed at Isabeau pointedly, "Now, repeat it to me."
As she tightened a pouch full of potions and regents about her hips, Isabeau paused to down several gulps from her goblet of wine. She turned and considered Cullen thoughtfully, "We'll loop and approach from the eastern hills while Cole, Leliana and her agents penetrate their ranks from the rear. Meet in the middle and cut through their advancing flank until we hit their front lines. Retreat immediately to the keep and defend the walls and fortress perimeter."
"You give no pause. No quarter. Cut until you draw blood and immediately double back," Cullen clarified sternly, his hands grasping her forearms. The combined forces outside their door had spent the last few hours assembling as Isabeau had moved her forces within Andoral's Reach. She knew they were running out of time for any surprise attack. Need to hit them with their breeches down as far as possible.
"There will be a river's worth to float my way back, love," she jested, standing on her toes to kiss Cullen on his scar.
He leaned back after and gently pushed Isabeau's rogue hair from her face, "I love you... return to me."
"Always," she whispered as she gave his hand an encouraging squeeze before she turned to leave, pausing at the threshold of his temporary quarters' door. "I love you, too. Be brave."
Isabeau choked back the weight that sat in the back of her throat, rapidly blinking at her burning eyes as she made her way through the hall and down the stairs to the yard at the back of the fortress. All of her usual companions were already assembled amongst the horses and men, patiently awaiting her arrival, the addition of Rhys and Evangeline included. With a deep breath she approached them, smiling warmly with pride as she looked over her friends.
"Vivienne, Solas… I would have you two stay. I need representatives to remain for the Inquisition's purposes," she smiled ruefully, "And someone at my back on these walls that I trust indefinitely."
"As you command, Inquisitor," Vivienne acquiesced, Solas nodding his own confirmation.
"We do not linger in this, take your kills but do not stop moving," Isabeau turned as Rhys' group of Spirit Healers came to join them. "Healers, focus your efforts on shielding us and yourselves and any Haste you may be able to offer in between. We are to be a veritable storm, quick and devastating."
The heads around her collectively nodded their ascent, Isabeau turning to stride towards the sally-ports leading to the mountain paths at the back of Andoral's Reach. Her small cavalry moved ahead of her immediate party and platoons of foot soldiers, Cullen's orders already relayed amongst the various ranks. It took the small army almost an hour to make their way carefully through the surrounding hilltops, the edge of the Templar forces finally coming into view between the rock faces below them.
Raising a hand to signify the halting of her men, Isabeau scuttled towards the front line of her cavalry, darting between cracks in the rock face to minimize detection. Luck had come to their aide as the moon became covered in cloud, blanketing the hills and battle field in darkness. The Inquisitor knew she had the tactical advantage for a finite period of time, verifying with her officers before signalling the assault. As one, she and her platoons exploded out from the cliff faces, barreling down the hills like water upon rock, the thunder of her cavalry and the pounding of boots drowning out her battle cry.
Bull and Evangeline kept pace at Isabeau's side as the three launched themselves through the cavalry's wake; darting between ruined tents and trampled, dead bodies to cut down any Templars or Seekers that managed to remain standing. Evangeline raised her shield and bashed in the face of an enemy as they passed him, the Templar thrown off his feet as he went crashing to the ground. Isabeau danced around Bull's hammer swings, spinning and slicing at anything outside his reach.
Suddenly jolted forward, Isabeau cried out in surprise as she felt a stone sharply collide with her shoulder. When she turned to glance, she came to see an arrow still buried within the magical barrier around her, her plate chipped but not pierced. She looked behind her and met Rhys' eyes at her rear, the Spirit Healer nodding quickly at her before darting for Evangeline. Isabeau double-timed it back to Bull's flank, slashing her swords down as one upon the back of a Seeker agitating the Quinari. As she spun around the enemy, she scissored her swords and sliced through bone and marrow, severing the head.
"Haha! Neat, boss!" Bull quipped as he shoved a huge Templar off him, swinging his hammer high before bringing it down to pulverize the knight's cuirass. The pair sprinted ahead to where Evangeline and Rhys were making way, the party a living battering ram as Isabeau's forces advanced ahead and at their flanks. Finally, they seemed to meet up with another battle, the flashes of Cole appearing between his targets relieving Isabeau as her muscles burned in protest of her attacks. The mages had done well healing her but her body was still taxed from her torture, Isabeau coaxing out every last drop of her endurance.
Leaping at a pair of Seeker's harassing Leliana, Isabeau tucked and rolled between them, her blades out and slicing at the exposed leather at the back of their ankles. As the men fell screaming, Isabeau reeled as she and Leliana brought their blades through each man's heart. Her spymaster helped her to her feet before swiftly nocking an arrow and releasing it upon an advancing enemy. A horn sounded and their eyes met briefly before they broke into a run, the signal for the retreat biting at their heels as their boots pounded the earth. Cole was a blur ahead of them, his movements between the Fade and Thedas rapid, entrancing and deadly as he cleared them a path.
Andoral's walls loomed in the near distance, a great, bright barrier lowering itself steadily over the fortress. Isabeau dashed under the edges of the encroaching shield, sliding on her knees as she turned and ushered what remained of her foot soldiers in, Varric near strolling as he breezed through the gap unbent.
"Maker's ass, Varric," she sighed, the weight on her heart lifted slightly by his ill-timed antics. When the barrier finally settled upon the earth, she slowly stood and backed up, watching as various projectiles uselessly bounced off it. With a great shake of her head she turned to reassemble the men who remained with her, pained by the noticeable losses but relieved to see her usual companions had fared relatively well.
I never take them anywhere nice.
She looked up at the mages and archers situated across the walls of the Reach, the main funnel of energy for the shield coming from within the center courtyard; Irving and the other senior Enchanters lending their might. As she felt herself awash with a pleasing energy, Isabeau became noticeably rejuvenated; her muscle's aches lessened and her lungs finally cooled as cuts and scrapes were reduced to bruises. Rhys was nearby tending to Evangeline and Sera's wounds, Bull, Varric and Dorian looking a bit harried but otherwise no worse for wear. She looked up to see Solas atop a parapet behind her, Isabeau waving her thanks. The relief was palpable as they used the opportunity to prepare, knowing the Templars would eventually bring down the barrier once close enough to project their abilities.
Another horn sounded as Isabeau ordered her soldiers back into formation, platoons of shields and spears joining them from the fortress' sally-ports, Cassandra's troops included. Isabeau made her way through them and her foot soldiers, coming to stand between Dorian and Evangeline as the earth seemed to shake from the incoming horde. Cassandra had brought Isabeau's shield as she had requested, Isabeau savoring its weight and the safety it could afford. As great streams of lightning and hellfire exploded from the walls behind her, Isabeau watched in awe as the mages unleashed their combined fury. Great storms raged and decimated chunks of the Templar forces; the crowded formations of armor leading to deadly chain lightning that raked through their ranks.
The first waves of Smite's and Cleanses began to echo off the barrier, great explosions assaulting Isabeau's ears with their impacts. Raising her sword in the air, Isabeau screamed the command forward and jogged behind her shield men as they pushed through the weakened barrier. She wanted to take advantage of the shield for as long as possible, allowing greater numbers of her troops to reinforce her rear from the sally-ports unharmed. As her shields advanced, the roar of battle became near deafening as they broke through the enemies ranks like a prow in water. Isabeau darted backwards and nodded at Bull, the Quinari immediately understanding and getting into position ahead of her. He laced his hands together and squatted before sending her an insane smile.
"Just wanna say; I'm so happy you're letting me do this."
"Shut up," Isabeau breathed as she tightened her grip on her pommel and shield, running at Bull before leaping and pressing her foot into his palms, the Quinari releasing like a spring to send her hurtling over the wall of shields. It was a struggle to not close her eyes as she flew through the air, tucking forward as she came roughly to the ground and rolled upon her shield, knocking out several Templar's legs in her wake. Briefly allowing a feel of relief over not getting gutted in the endeavour, Isabeau leapt up to parry an incoming blade. Her sword slashed across her assailant's throat just as Sera flew over a portion of shields, deftly firing an arrow mid-air before landing in a feline fashion across from Isabeau's position.
"You let him do it!" Isabeau cried out jubilantly as she dodged the shield of the templar charging at her, fluidly dodging and coming up behind to rake her sword down his spine, shattering and tearing the buckles to his cuirass before unceremoniously bashing him to the ground with her shield.
Sera nonchalantly stabbed her dagger through the eye slits of a templar's helm, yanking it back and tossing it into the neck of a second assailant in several fluid movements, "You looked like you had fun. Why not?" The elf laughed as she flawlessly nocked arrows, enemies falling to her precision as they approached. As the pair finished clearing a perimeter, Isabeau turned to see her shield formation split long enough for her remaining party to gush forward, Bull running full tilt with a battle roar as Evangeline and Varric followed. Rhys and Dorian remained in the relative safety of the shield wall as they literally worked their magic; Cole dancing through its perimeter as he dropped any encroaching enemies with a blade through the helm or back.
Isabeau decided then that she very much appreciated Cole.
As she shook the thought from her head, she suddenly dropped to her knees, her shield shooting up; Isabeau grunted with effort as she deflected the Seeker's incoming mace. She tilted her wrist back and slammed it into the ribbing of her attacker's armor while their extended arms exposed their flank, the blade in her gauntlet punching through leather, flesh and bone. With a great heave she pulled back, knocking the crumpling body to the ground as her hand started to glow impossibly bright. The mages were beginning to try and tap into her energy, Isabeau turning and shoving her sword in the air back to the fortress, mimicking her actions when closing Tears, as a great eruption of green light cascaded from her fingertips. Screaming from the sensation, Isabeau continued for as long as she dared, formations of her shields and soldiers layering around her protectively as the beam of light split the sky above her.
Evangeline suddenly came crashing towards the formation, a spear from one of Isabeau's troops impaling the Seeker that harried at the Knight's heels.
"INQUISITOR!" she screamed as she exploded through the ranks, "Stop! You must STOP!"
With a great effort, Isabeau tried to cease the beam of energy, her face growing twisted in fear as she realized with a start that she couldn't. Suddenly a wave of energy slammed into her, pain exploding behind her eyes as the connection was viciously severed by Evangeline's Holy Smite. The Templar caught Isabeau in her arms as she collapsed, the Inquisitor's consciousness returning to the sound of apologies profusely flowing from Evangeline's lips.
"No," Isabeau breathed in pained relief as her vision cleared, "You did the right thing…" She rubbed at her forehead, feeling a peculiar sense of relief over surviving the Templar's ability. At least it can't kill me... Cullen should be relieved. Though, Maker, that could have turned out differently.
She filed the morbid curiosity away as she regarded the woman before her, "Why though?"
"I could feel it, Inquisitor. Whatever you did, it was not just to the mage's benefit," Evangeline explained as she lifted Isabeau to her feet. "The… change was exponential, my lady. The Lyrium in my blood called to it; I cringe to think its prolonged effect on our enemies combined forces."
Realization dawned on Isabeau like a bucket of cold water poured down her back.
"A runner… I NEED A RUNNER!" Isabeau screamed in alarm at her embattled forces, a spike of panic shooting through her as their plan crumbled to her feet. Shoving his way through a collection of the shields surrounding Isabeau, her squire Pod appeared. Thank the Maker for Podrick.
She clutched at his shoulders gravely.
"Make haste for the sally-port, you must warn Ser Cullen: Change in tactics. I cannot assist the mages; my connection will support the Templar's equally. Now GO!"
Isabeau flexed her grip on her pommel as she watched her squire sprint for the rear, silently praying the mages had sufficient Lyrium stores. The wrench in their plan was significant, Isabeau now painfully aware of the vast numbers encroaching upon her comparably smaller forces as she and Evangeline threw themselves back into the fray. Just as Isabeau bashed a Seeker to the ground, burying the edge of her shield into his throat, a man called out from behind her.
"Galyan!"
Cassandra appeared and rushed from Isabeau's flank to meet the approaching mage, the pair embracing warmly as they met on the battle field. The brunette and bearded mage, Galyan, expelled an arch of flames at the enemies around them, Cassandra fluidly releasing their embrace to throw and impale a Templar that had charged the mage from behind, her sword pinning the knight to the ground. Isabeau jogged towards them as Cassandra quickly retrieved her bastard sword, cutting down any enemies in her way. Grunting as a few of her their swords made it past her defenses in her haste, Isabeau fought to keep her balance as they connected with the magical barrier that still surrounded her.
"Friend of yours?" she gritted through her teeth as the three of them fought together, the battle field pure pandemonium as steel and the elements clashed with epic ferocity around them.
"You could say that," Cassandra answered as she and Isabeau flanked the soldier harassing Galyan. They smashed their shields in unison, sandwiching the assailant before Galyan buried a blade under the Templar's chin.
"Inquisitor, I have a message from your-" He was interrupted as he erected a barrier of ice, blocking an assault of arrows from hitting them "-General and the other Enchanters. I'm ah, Enchanter Regalyan D'Marcall..." He panted his full name out as the brief lull in the assault allowed them to speak, "Just... Galyan though, if you would."
"Well met, Enchanter Galyan," Isabeau said as she tersely shook the mages outstretched hand, "Speak quickly now."
He swallowed thickly before continuing, "We may have lost your battery, but there is… one more option, to help stem the tide." Cassandra quirked an eyebrow at Galyan's admission before her features melded into one of shaken understanding.
"She is here?"
"No, we thought we'd send her on vacation to Antiva. Get some sun and fresh air…" Galyan quipped sardonically before his face grew tight, "Where else would she be?"
Cassandra smacked his arm for his insolence, "And you have them?
"Precautions were taken, Cassandra…"
"Hey!" Isabeau snapped at the bickering pair, banging her sword loudly against her shield. "Can we keep on the matter at hand, please?"
"Dragons," Cassandra offered as if adequate explanation, Isabeau left to gape with impatient chagrin before Cassandra quickly continued. "Avexis, she is... a mage we rescued a number of years ago. You remember the attack on the Ten Year Gathering?"
Isabeau let out an audible laugh in shock, "You're joking, you're here to tell me that all this time, the mages have had fucking dragons at their command?!"
"It is hardly something we wanted to broadcast to our enemies prematurely," Galyan crossed his arms as he warily scanned the fringes of the battle around them, "With the Breach, they have become so active... Well, Avexis has... honed her skill."
"How many? Did Ser Cullen warn my Captains?!"
"Three, they are to be called upon so-"
Galyan's answer was abruptly interrupted, shrieking roars echoing through the night sky, the bellow so great the sounds of battle were muted in their wake. Heads, including Isabeau's own, whipped around across the battle as both sides turned to locate the source, the great barrier around Andoral's Reach disappearing as the beam rapidly pulled inwards before exploding violently outwards with a BOOM, shockwaves sent through the ground forces following the blast. Suddenly three great shadows appeared in the distance from The Blasted Hills, taking the undeniable shape of dragons as they swiftly approached the battle below. A whoosh of air nearly knocked Isabeau off her feet as the larger of the two came to land several feet ahead of her position, the Inquisitor frozen in awe of the great beast as it unleashed hell upon their enemies.
"I have to get back!" Galyan shouted, "Avexis needs all the support she can get!"
Cassandra clasped his forearm tightly before the mage turned and sprinted away. She swung her sword as she nodded her head at Isabeau's side, seemingly amused by her Inquisitor's astonishment, "I've ridden that one."
"You... what?"
"Come!" Cassandra called as the two of them sprinted to the flank around the dragon, cutting back enemies as Isabeau gave the monster a wide berth, exhilarated as she watched the cataclysmic beasts break and scatter the enemy's lines with ease. Incredibly, Cassandra suddenly broke off from her side and nimbly leapt her way atop the dragon, running up its neck before launching herself from its head, her sword cleaving a man near in two as she came screaming down. Adrenaline left Isabeau feeling drugged on the fantastical turn the battle had taken, vaguely recalling the Pentaghast legacy.
Having lost herself in the grand rhythm of attacks, defenses and all manner of spells rejuvenating her declining stamina, Isabeau suddenly realized they had moved far from the Reach's gates. Her forces and the dragons had managed to push back their enemies until they were now eradicating what remained of the Templar's encampments. Isabeau bolstered the last of her energy and burst ahead of her force's lines, daring to run through the legs of the closest dragon before her as she lead the charge at the remnants of the Order's rear guard and command posts.
Finally, their enemy's horn sounded the retreat, white banners beginning to raise and replace those containing the flaming sword and seeking eye. Scores of men and women turned and ran, breaking formation as they scrambled to flee the dragon's fire, Isabeau amazed as the epic animals all came to cease their own attacks. She sheathed her own sword, locking her shield onto her back as she warily watched the retreating army, turning to survey the carnage around her. The way back to the Reach behind them was stained red with blood, great blackened scorches criss-crossing the earth from the dragon's fire and littered with corpses. Isabeau cringed at the sheer numbers of her own men's armor amongst the dead.
As her tired muscles began to ache in their respite, her companions slowly made their way to Isabeau's position, many of them as bruised and battered as she. Rhys kindly began to tend to her wounds, Isabeau involuntarily groaning as the relief spread through her. Varric hauled Bianca up against his shoulder, releasing a low whistle as he shook his head at the near-motionless dragons.
"Of all the things I've seen... "
Sera spat her indignation, "All this time they've had bloody dragons and we had to bail them out of their shit?"
Cassandra sighed and swung her shoulder in adjustment, "It is... a long story."
Isabeau rounded on the Seeker, "You knew and you didn't tell me?"
"I did not. To my knowledge, Avexis had released them when she returned to study at the Whitespire. I wasn't even aware of Galyan's presence at the fortress, let alone the girl's. I suppose it was to be expected." She levelled her stern gaze with Isabeau's, "However, I do not have whatever answers you're looking for, Inquisitor."
"I suggest we make for the Reach, connect with Cullen and the Enchanters. The Templars and Seekers, if they are wise, should be preparing to treat now that we have defeated them," Leliana said as she held an arm out, Rhys' magic glowing upon it as he healed a particularly nasty gash.
Isabeau nodded in agreement, striding to one of her nearby Captain's to spread the order; commanding the bulk of her forces to hold their ground and remain at the ready. Podrick then appeared on her horse Vita, Isabeau reaching to squeeze his arm in appreciation for the squire's tireless efforts and aptly timed presence. They exchanged places as she mounted the palfry, not waiting for her other companions as she spurred the mare through the carnage that had been a road. Numerous platoons of her soldiers remained at the fortress' gate, Isabeau riding Vita through the sally-port before bursting into the main courtyard and striding for the command center Cullen had set up.
"Dragons!" she cried as she burst into the room, the doors slamming behind her as she charged for the table where Cullen stood surrounded with mages. She briefly considered the irony of the sight before her anger flared again.
"Madam Inquisitor..."
"Don't you 'madam' me, First Enchanter," Isabeau chastised as she stopped across from Irving, her hands splaying across the table's map-covered surface. "You put a thousand of my men, and my own person, at risk. I had my doubts when Enchanter Galyan first found me on the field, but to see them in action...? Why?" she commanded simply, her fist pounding the table top at her last syllable.
Irving immediately understood.
"It is a finite resource, Inquisitor. Avexis is still but a girl and barely out of her apprenticeship, for her to assume full control of the beasts... it takes considerable preparation and assistance. She has always been our last resort," Irving explained with a patience that quelled Isabeau's fury. "When we learned of your... complications, we informed Ser Cullen accordingly."
Isabeau crossed her arms at her Marshall, "Oh yes, not everyone can put 'commanded dragons' in their memoirs. I'm happy for you, Ser Cullen."
The Knight scowled at her flippancy, "We were fighting a losing battle, Inquisitor. The minute your beam went up, I felt the effects myself; I knew it was not viable. I did what was necessary in order to save lives. To save yours."
Isabeau's exhaustion seemed to catch up with her as she slumped at his words, tiredly reaching to pull off her helm and set it upon the table's surface. She yanked out the leather twine that held back her hair, running her fingers through the sweaty and tangled locks in an effort to tame them before unceremoniously flinging herself onto a chair.
"How long can she control them?" she finally asked.
Irving coughed into his hand, clearing his throat, "Not much longer I am afraid. It is fortuitous our enemy's began to surrender when they did."
"And... then what? Do they get a bone and are content to sleep on a mat before the hearth?"
"Inquisitor..." Cullen cautiously began but Isabeau barrelled on.
"No, I'm seriously wondering at the logistics. They have managed to secretly hide three Maker-damned dragons, Cullen."
Irving sighed and began to pace, Galyan bursting then from one of the hall's side doors, coming to place a calming hand atop the elder mage's shoulders. He turned his determined gaze to Isabeau's.
"They leave at the disconnection, Inquisitor. They have never attacked us..." he began as he tiredly scratched at his beard, "We... are still determining the true extent of Avexis' abilities but she is the only mage in all of Thedas that commands this particular form of bestiary magic."
"You must understand, my lady, we had not known you enemy from foe at the time and our greatest opponent was at our very door step when you arrived," Irving sank into his own chair, his own exhaustion lining his face. "We always intended on defending ourselves by any means necessary. When Dagna revealed your... potential capabilities, I saw it as an opportunity for compromise."
"Inquisitor!"
Before Isabeau could reply, she turned to face Cassandra as the powerful woman made for the gathering, a rolled parchment in hand, "The Templars and Seekers have formally surrendered and request to treat with you at dawn."
The Inquisitor turned her head and looked out of one of the hall's great windows, realizing the hour was fast approaching, "Very well, Cassandra. We will give them time to bury their dead but if they do not arrive by first light, I will see them eradicated."
The dragon's roars erupted from the battlefield suddenly; the windows Isabeau stared out rattling loudly as the screams grew closer. Great flapping sounds of the beasts swooping wings echoed over head, Galyan nodding as they all listened as the beasts passed over and the sound rapidly diminished, "I must return to Avexis, she will be incredibly weakened. Cassandra, would you... like to join me?"
The Seeker looked to Isabeau expectantly.
"Of course, Cass. I will call for you should I require you," Isabeau consented before the pair nodded and strode from the hall. She turned and regarded Cullen, "Let us retire to your quarters, I wish to discuss things further with you."
"As you command Inquisitor," Cullen bowed politely to the assembled mages before he followed her out and to his chambers. Isabeau strode in and immediately went for the decanter of water, greedily chugging back from her goblet. With a great exhale of breath, she wiped the water, grime and blood at her chin before turning to Cullen.
"I'm sorry; I dishonored you with my impertinence. With an audience, no less," she began ruefully as she refilled her goblet with wine, bringing it to her lips to swallow deeply as she regarded Cullen over its rim.
"You did," Cullen assented plainly as he came to stand before her. "But... given the extraordinary circumstances, I believe I can forgive it this one time."
"It's just so bloody unbelievable."
Cullen's lips pursed as his gaze grew distant, "I have seen many things in my years, Isabeau... Impressive as Avexis' ability is, to be attacked by statues I stood under for years... I think that tops my, ah... list."
A repentant snort erupted from Isabeau as she nodded her head in acquiescence, "A more than fair point."
"The mage's strategy was not... unsound. Though I shudder to think how our own forces would have fared if on the opposing side," Cullen groaned as he rubbed at the back of his neck tiredly. "Inquisitor... Isabeau," he took her hands in his, "Tonight you have won yourself incredible allies your armies will benefit greatly from, regardless of my own... misgivings. Take solace in that, for now."
Isabeau let out a shuddering breath as she squeezed Cullen's hands in thanks, turning to the wash basin nearby to wipe the worst of the battle grime from her face. "I don't... feel victorious. Lambert is still missing and surely you don't think this encompassed their entire forces in Thedas?"
Cullen nodded gravely, "You are not incorrect. You have won a battle, not a war... but it still remains a victory." He reached and poured a second goblet of wine for himself, knocking it against Isabeau's before he took a careful sip, "Let us hear what the Templars have to say. Admittedly I'm concerned we may not find a... balanced compromise."
"Yeah. Dragons: great bargaining chips."
As he held his arm out to escort Isabeau back to the main hall, she raised a hand haltingly by the door, "Wait... you mentioned, during the battle, you felt my beam. You... haven't had Lyrium, have you?"
Cullen rubbed at the side of his forehead with a hand, "None, my lady, I assure you. Since that dwarf... explained her theory, I have been fostering one of my own. May we speak of it later, with Solas?"
"Of course, Cullen," Isabeau relented, patting his hand as they made their way back to their seats in the great hall, the sky outside the windows turning steadily pink as they patiently waited. The great double doors at the end of the hall soon split open as the first rays of light rained in, an envoy of what appeared clearly as high ranking officers of their enemy's ranks striding toward where the Inquisitor sat. Isabeau rose from her seat as they approached, coming to stand alone before the table where Cullen and the mages remained behind her.
A regally armored Templar and equally impressive Seeker knelt before Isabeau.
"You may rise," she commanded, the pair clattering in their armor as they stood. The Templar removed his helm to reveal a grizzled man with silver streaks in his thick brown hair and beard.
"Commander Gregoir," Cullen greeted evenly from Isabeau's back, the Inquisitor catching the slight bite behind the words.
"Ser Cullen," the Knight inclined his head respectfully before returning his gaze to Isabeau, "Inquisitor... I am here to submit our formal surrender and am prepared to hear your terms."
Isabeau straightened her back as she carefully regarded the man before her, "I am not entertaining the assumption this is my last campaign against you and your constituents, Commander. However, this day is both mine and my allies; I would have us hear their terms first." Isabeau said gravely as she turned to face First Enchanter Irving, Rhys and Galyan at the elder mage's sides.
Irving rose and made his way to Isabeau's side, a sad and tired smile gracing his lips as he looked upon Ser Gregoir, "It has been... some time, old friend. A shame it all had to come to this..." he trailed off as he looked around the hall, a mixture of Mages, Templars and Seekers glaring back at him as he spoke. "Our consortium wishes to join in aiding the Inquisition... but not under Templar oppression. Andoral's Reach is yours, Inquisitor, if you but offer us autonomy henceforth."
Commander Gregoir shook his head in yielding before he looked back to Isabeau, "And what of my forces?"
"There will be compromise, for us all," she began as she crossed her arms at the men before her, "You will have your autonomy, Irving... at the cost of a garrison of my men stationed to assist in both policing and protecting. This is to be the Inquisition's fortress now; you and Ser Gregoir will work to defend it together."
Cries of outrage erupted from around the hall, Irving and Gregoir both sounding their protests.
"You would subject us to yet another form of the Circle?!"
"We will be overrun with abominations before a month's end!"
"ENOUGH!" Isabeau screamed as she raised her fist, an explosion of Fade energy erupting from her hand to thunderclap across the ceiling of the hall, its power echoing against the walls and windows. The great room fell to a deafening silence, "Our world is tearing itself apart! I am finished with your petty squabbling! You will both accept my terms or as the Maker for my witness, I will leave you to the demons and you will burn the longest."
With each lethal word, an eerie green aurora encompassed Isabeau, flames of the green light licking about the edges of her body as her eyes bore into the men before her. As her heart pounded harder in her chest, the glow about her began to shift and change from green to a near-white blue, gasps collectively wringing out amongst the crowd as the Inquisitor was fully enveloped by the warm glow.
"Look at me!" she cried as she stretched out her arms entreatingly, "I am all that stands between you and the abyss. Only I can close the rifts... and if I do not gather enough forces to besiege the Breach, it will consumeus all. Everything you've ever loved, every freedom you've held dear or aspired for... will be wrenched from your pathetic clutches by the demon's grasps." Isabeau paused to allow her calm to return, the light around her beginning to fade as her heart slowed, "For thousands of years youhave fought a common foe but always while at odds; today you will unite finally in your adversity and protect each other!"